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Scotland has a population
of 5,295,000 (first results of 2011 Census). Covering an area of 78,782
square kilometres (30,418 sq mi), Scotland has a population density of
67.2 /km2 (174 /sq mi). Around 70% of the country's population live in
the Central Lowlands — region stretching in a northeast-southwest
orientation between the major cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, and
including major settlements such as Paisley, Stirling, Falkirk, Perth
and Dundee. Other concentrations of population include the northeast
coast of Scotland, principally the regions around the cities of Aberdeen
and Inverness. The Highlands of Scotland have the lowest population
density at 8 /km2 (21 /sq mi). The City of Glasgow has the highest
population density at 3,292 /km2 (8,530 /sq mi).
Estimating the population of Scotland, as well as recording births,
deaths and marriages in Scotland is overseen by the General Register
Office for Scotland (GROS), headed by the Registrar-General for
Scotland. Under the terms of the Registration of Births, Deaths and
Marriages (Scotland) Act 1965, the Registrar-General must present an
annual report of demographic trends to Scottish Ministers (previously
the Secretary of State for Scotland prior to devolution). In conjunction
with the rest of the United Kingdom a decadal census of population is
carried out — the last one being 2011, the next taking place in 2021.
Population and Migration in Scotland
From the Scottish Government
Migrants in Scotland’s population histories since 1850
By Professor Michael Anderson FBA, FRSE Professor Emeritus of Economic History and Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Edinburgh. (pdf) |
